Self-adjusting waist.



PATENTED JUNE 14, 1904.

L. FOGUS. SELF ADJUSTING WAIST.

Patented June 14, 1904.

LOUISE F OGUS, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

SELF-ADJUSTING WAIST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 762,581, dated June 14,1904.

Application filed Match 16, 1903. Serial No. 148,318. (No model.)

. flexible bones extending substantiallyvertical within suitable casingsand converging downwardly with relation to each other.

There is a fullness to the lower part of the material within which thebones are fixed, and the upper edge of the material is substantiallynon-extensible transversely. The fullness of the lower part of thematerial is gathered between the lower end of the bones and this portionof the device contracted in width by the elasticity of the bones, thetendency of which'is to normally remain in an approximately straightline. Tapes or strings are fitted to the lower ends of the material ofthe form and are adapted to be drawn around the waist, and thetension-thus brought upon the lower part has the effect to extend ittransversely, drawing the downwardly pro jecting central portion into anapproximately straight line, the effect of which is to cause the bonesto curve outwardly, so as to form a support for the exterior waist orcovering.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of one-half of thebust-improver. Fig. 2 is a view showing it extended for use. Fig. 3 is afront View of the device in position.

A is the body of my device, which is formed of any suitable light clothor woven material, and this body has vertically-disposed casings, as at2, which are adapted to receive light elastic bones or steels extendingfrom the top to the bottom.

The shape of the part A is such that the outer edges are substantiallystraight, as shown at 3 in the pattern Fig. 1.

The lower end of A is considerably wider than the upper end, and theupper end is cut,

as shown at 4, so as to fit about the neck or upper part of the bust ofthe wearer.

The casings are so placed in the material that they normally convergefrom the top toward the lower end, and the tendency of the elastic bonesto remain straight causes the device to be substantially flat, with afullness which is gathered between the convergent lower ends of thebones. The lower end of the fabric is also curved downward toward thecenter, as shown, and the bottom is normally drawn in by the tension ofthe elastic bones in the pockets or casings, so that the fullness atthis point is gathered between the bones.

9 represents tapes connected with each side of the lower edges of thedevice, and when these tapes are drawn around the Waist the lower end ofthe device is extended transversely, correspondingly drawing up thecentral portion into a more nearly straight line, and this action causesa peculiar curvature of the bones within their casings, thus making aconvexity of the lower portion similar to that shown in Fig. 2, in whichthe convexity and fullness is near to the lower edge. This action alsopresses the upper part of the device against the bust or neck andpractically holds it in place; but, if desired, the tape may be furthersecured by straps, as at 6, which pass over the shoulders from each sideof the upper end. The loose front of the waist which forms the outsidecovering is then put on over this device and will be maintained inproper position by the peculiar shape of the device.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

As a new article of manufacture an automatically-adjustable blouse-andshirt-waist support, said device comprising a fabric, the vertical sidesof which are normallyapproximately parallel and having the lower edgecurved downwardly at the central portion, casings containing elasticbones converged from the upper to the lower edge and forming a series ofloosely foldable and expansible vertical strips of fabric between thebones,

tapes. connected with the opposite lower an- In Witness whereof I havehereunto set my gles of the device adapted to tie around the hand. mustwhereby the tension upon the tapes acts LOUISE FOGUS.

to draw the downwardly-curved center upwardly, and by thus shorteningthe distance Witnesses:

from top to bottom to automatically expand S. H. NOURsE,

and curve the front outwardly. JESSIE C. BRODIE.

